Author: HH Bhakti Vikas Swami

Acyutananda: When people are starving and they have no clothing, then how can they take to Krsna consciousness? First give them food, then clothing and education, and then Krsna consciousness. Prabhupada: Those who are Krsna conscious, are they starving? Then why they not become Krsna conscious? Acyutananda: They said because first they had to give […]

As stated in the beginning of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, this great transcendental literature is the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic knowledge, and therefore all questions that can be humanly possible regarding the universal affairs, beginning from its creation, are all answered in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada; SB 2.9.46, Purport

The demigods are called sakama devotees, or devotees with material desires in mind, while the pure devotees are called niskama devotees because they have no desires for their personal interests. The sakama devotees are self-interested because they do not think of others, and therefore they are not able to satisfy the Lord perfectly, whereas the […]

Our program for Krsna consciousness is solid and backed by most authoritative literature-Bhagavad-gita, and Srimad-Bhagavatam; there is no question of our not being popular to the world. Simply we have to present ourselves in true perspective. From a letter from Srila Prabhupada — 7 Feb 1968

mala-nirmocanam pumsamjala-snanam dine dinesakrd gitamrta-snanamsamsara-mala-nasanam “One may cleanse himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one takes a bath even once in the sacred Ganges water of Bhagavad-gita, for him the dirt of material life is altogether vanquished.” (Gita-mahatmya 3) (Quoted in Srila Prabhupada’s introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is)

We were in Detroit at the newly acquired Fisher mansion, probably the finest, most luxurious property that ISKCON ever has or will acquire: beautiful marble floors, pillars, everywhere like a palace out of the Arabian Nights. That night, after the day’s activities, a couple of us were sitting with His Divine Grace by his desk. […]

Devotee: Prabhupada, before this movement came here we were so caught up in sinful activities. How is it that we were so fortunate to be benedicted with this great Hare Krsna movement? Prabhupada: It is Krsna’s mercy. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to give you. Now He has come here. You take advantage of it. Caitanya Mahaprabhu […]

If one is infested with the ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, despite his endeavor to chant the holy name for many births, he will not get the love of Godhead that is the ultimate goal of this chanting. Srila Prabhupada’s translation of Cc Adi 8.16

We have become guru, spiritual master, not with a false position, that “I have become God.” No. We are servant, simply servant, ordinary servant. Just like post peon. Not very high salaried servant. Ordinary, third-class servant. What is our business? To deliver the letter. That’s all. “Here is your letter, sir.” So to become spiritual […]

I haven’t got to manufacture things by high meditation and tapasya. This is tapasya, simply to become a faithful servant of Krsna. That’s all. So where is the difficulty? This is tapasya, that “I shall not speak anything beyond what Krsna has spoken.” This is tapasya. But if I want to adulterate, “Oh, I am […]

I am very glad to learn that you are all working peacefully together. This is the most favorable atmosphere for cultivating our Krishna consciousness. And if people see us working together nicely, they cannot criticize anything against our Krishna consciousness movement. From a letter by Srila Prabhupada to Prabhavisnu — Bombay 3 December, 1974

There is a verse in which Srila Rupa Gosvami says, avyartha-kalatvam: [Cc. Madhya 23.18-19] a devotee should be very much careful to see whether his time is being spent unnecessarily. He should ask himself, “Am I now engaged in maya’s service or Krsna’s service?” This is a symptom of an advanced devotee. Nama-gane sada rucih: […]